Mixed liquid heater and separator



Aug. 23, 1949. R. s. SULLIVAN MIXED LIQUID HEATER AND SEPARATOR 2Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 14, 1947 INVENTOR, 24 YMo/Ymi 5ULL/M4/Y"TTORNEY Aug. 23, 1949. R. s. SULLIVAN MIXED LIQUID HEATER AND SEPARATOR2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 14, 1947 INVENTOR,

ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXEDLIQUID HEATER AND SEPARATOR Raymond S. Sullivan, Redondo Beach, Calif.

Application April 14, 1947, Serial No. 741,209

3 Claims. (Cl. 122-149) This invention relates to means for treatingliquids, and particularly pertains to a mixed liquid heater andseparator.

In various industries it is desirable to treat mixed liquids, such asoil and water, in order to separate and recover the oil from themixture. This is particularly true in connection with the production ofcrude oil in which water is often mixed with the oil. It is desirable toprovide simple and effective means whereby mixed fluids may be passedrapidly through treating apparatus and within which the fluids areseparated and the valuable fraction thereof recovered in a continuousoperation. It is the principal object of the present invention,therefore, to provide a, treating furnace through which mixed fluids,such as oil and water, can be passed and within which these fluids areheated while the fraction, such as oil, is washed, and after which thewater is driven off to permit the oil to be recovered continuously.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a heater of thehorizontal tubular type into which mixed fluids, such as oil and water,may be introduced and circulated in heat exchange relationship to acombustion chamber and flue pipes while the fluid is heated and thewater is driven oil.

The invention is illustrated by way .of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is an end view showing the heater with which the presentinvention is concerned.

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through the heater asseen on the line 22 of Fig. 1 and shows the details of construction ofthe heater.

Fig. 3 is a View in transverse vertical section through the fire-box ofthe heater as seen on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a View in transverse vertical section and elevation as seen onthe line 4-4 of Fig, 2 and shows the relation between the baflie wallsand the flue tubes.

Fig. 5 is a View in vertical section along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 andshows the arrangement of tubes and a wall at the stack end of theheater.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l indicates an outercylindrical shell, at one end of which is formed a bolting flange II toreceive a transverse tube plate l2. The transverse tube plate extendsentirely across the end of the shell l0 and is held in position by anannular flange l3 of angle section which is secured in place by bolts M.This flange serves as a mounting for a flue outlet structure l which hasa cylindrical wall section 16 agreeing substantially in radius with thatof the shell It a transverse wall section comprising opposite horizontallengths l1, and an intermediate semicylindrical portion IS. The plane ofthe wall sections I! is materially lower than the horizontal centerplane of the shell II], for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Theouter edge of the flue structure l5 inclines upwardly and outwardly andis closed by a removable end plate l9. This plate is held in position bybolts 20 and nuts 2|. A flue opening 22 is formed through the top of thesection !6 of the flue outlet l5 and is in register with a stack 23 ofa, desired height. This stack is secured in position by a saddle flange24, which flange is fastened to the portion l6 by bolts 25 and nuts 26.

A circular opening 2! is formed through the end plate l2, thelongitudinal axis of which opening lies in the horizontal plane of thewall sections ll of the flue outlet. The wall section 18 is concentricwith the center of the opening 21 and is spaced a distance therefrom.Extending horizontally and inwardly through the opening 21 of the tubesheet I2, is a fire tube 28. This tube is welded into the tube sheet l2at one end and is welded into an end wall 29 of a com bustion chamber 30at its opposite end. The combustion chamber 30 is formed by acylindrical shell 3| which is welded at one end to the end wall 29 ofthe combustion chamber 30. The opposite end of the shell 3| is closed bya dome 32 which is here shown as welded in position. The outsidediameter of the combustion chamber shell 3| is materially less than theinside diameter of the outer shell ID. Mounted at the outer end of thefire tube 28 and beyond the end of the tube sheet 12 is a fuel burner 33which directs a flame of fuel longitudinally of the tube sheet l2 andinto the combustion chamber 30. A plurality of flue pipes 34 extendthrough openings in the tube sheet [2 and the end wall 29 of thecombustion chamber. These flue pipes are arranged in three horizontalrows as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings and are substantially uniformlyspaced with relation to each other in the area defined by the flueoutlet structure as shown in Fig. 5. The shell 3| of the combustionchamber 30 is supported upon a skid structure 35 which is secured to thelower side of the shell 3| and rests against the lower portion of theouter shell Hi. This skid supports the shell 3| so that when the fluestructure l5 and the ring l3 are removed from the end of the shell illthe fire tube as well as the 3 flue tubes and the combustion chamber maybe withdrawn bodily from the shell [0.

The end of the shell opposite from the tube sheet i2 is here shown asclosed by a dome 36 which is welded in place. This dome is spaced fromthe end of the combustion chamber dome 32 a distance substantially equalto the spacing of the shell 48 from the shell 3|. Formed through thedome 35 at diametrically opposite sides of the vertical center thereofis an Qil'inlet opening 3'! and a washtank opening 38-. Pipe couplings39 and 40, respectively, are fixed into these openings. Attention isdirected to the fact that theopenings are in a horizontal plane.materially lower than the horizontal plane occupied by the longitudinalaxis of the shell.

Secured along the horizontal centerv planeof the shell I!) and to theinner face of the dome 36 is a horizontal flange 4!. The top of thisflange is in alignment with two opposite angle members 42 and 43 whichare secured to the inner face of the shell l and extend throughout. thelength of the shell to the tube sheet l2. Fixed to the opposite sides ofthe combustion chamber shell 3| and around the end of the dome 32 is ahorizontal partition flange 44 which rests upon the angle flanges 42 and43 and divides thespa-ce around the combustion chamber int-o an annularupper circulating space 45 and an annular lower. circulating space 46.Extending from theend wall 29 of the combustion chamber 30 andlying inthe same plane is a horizontal bafile plate 41. This plate extendshorizontally and is supported at its opposite edges upon the anglemembers 42 and 43. Adjacent the. opposite end of the plate. 41 from thecombustion chamber and spaced from the tube sheet I2 is a transversesupporting angle 48. This supports the free end of the baflle plate 47and provides a circulation throat 49 through which liquidmaypassupwardly as it flows through the heater, as will be hereinafterdescribed. The baille plate 4'! is positioned between the fire tube 28and the intermediate horizontal course of flue pipes 34. The transversesupporting member 48 is angle-shaped and is. disposed with one verticalleg extending downwardly. This leg is formed with notches 50, as. shownin Fig. 4 of the drawing. These. notches act as oil spreaders and tendto insure that the flow of liquid will be distributed horizontally asthe liquid flows upwardly through the opening 49 and into a circulationspace which occurs between the lower bafile plate 41. and anupper baflleplate 52. The upper baille plate 52 is parallel to the baiile plate 41and is supported from opposite edges of the shell [0 in a plane.between. theupper row of flue pipes 34 and theintermediate row of fluepipes 34, The upper .baflle plate 52 1 extends entirely from the tubesheet l2 to the end. wall 29 of the combustion chamber 30. Continuationsthereof, as indicated at 53, extend along opposite sides of thecombustion chamber shell 3! and are parallel to the bafile plate members44 which are supported upon theangles 42 and 43. The bafile platecontinuations 53 are supported by inwardly extending. flange members 54which are welded to theinner surfac ofthe shell I6 and form a fluid sealwith the extensions 43 and also with the body of the baffle plate 52.This creates fluid passageways 55 and 56 along the opposite sides of thecombustion chamber shell 3| and between the. b aille. plate extensions44 and 53. The bafile -plate extensions 53 are shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing as. terminating short of the end of the combustion chamber 30.

Thus a return passageway 51 occurs around the end of the baflle plateextensions 53 and into a circulation space 58 thereabove. The space 58represents a sector of a circle defined along its outer perimeter by theupper portion of the shell H]. The upper course of flue tubes 34 occurswithin this circulation space. The treated oil is drawn off from theshell through an outlet coupling '59 which extends through the top ofthe wall of the shell 10 adjacent to the tube plate 12. A suitableconduit connects the coupling 59 with a liquid separator. The heavymaterial incident to the operation is drawn ofi through a drainconnection 69. The entire heater structure is supported upon legs 6| tohold the shell I 0 at a desired and convenient elevation above thefloor.

In operation of the present invention a controlled flow of mixed oil andwater is introduced through the oil inlet coupling 39 into the space 43around the combustion chamber. Water from a wash tankis introducedthrough a coupling 48 into the space 46. The liquid fills the space 46and envelopes the lower half of the combustion chamber shell 3|occurring beneath the baflle extension 44. The oil also envelopes thefire tube 28 and rises to the level of the horizontal baflie plate 41.The oil then flows upwardly through the circulation opening 49 at theend of the baffle plate 4'! which is spaced from the tube sheet 12. Theflow from the couplings 39 and 40. and within the lower half of theshell is in the direction indicated by arrow (1 in Fig. 2. After theliquids passthrough the circulation passageway 49 a counterflow of theliquid is established in the, direction of the arrow b as indicated inFig. 2, and the fluid fills the space 51 and. continues outwardly in thespace 55 between the baflle extensions 44 and 53. A return flow thentakes place in the space- 51, as indicated by the arrow 0, and theliquid continues horizontallythrough the shell I 0 in the direction ofthe arrow d and within the circulation space 58. During this time itwill be obvious that the fire tube 28, the. combustion chamber 39, andthe flue pipes 34 are all submerged within the liquid being treated.While in this conditionthe burner 33 is ignited to direct a jet ofcombustion material horizontally and into the fire tube 28 in thedirection of the arrow 6. This fuel and the products. ofcombustion fillthe enlarged combustion chamber 30 and then return in acounter-direction, as indicated by the arrow 1, through the varioustubes 34. The prodnets of combustion fiow outwardly from the ends of theflue pipes which. pass through the tube sheet I2 and into the flueoutlet structure I5. The products of combustion then pass upwardlythrough the stack 23 as regulated by a damper 23. The treated liquidthen passes outwardly through the outlet coupling 59 and may thereafterbe handled as desired. The residue which may accumulate in the'bottom ofthe shell I0 is drawn off through the connection 60.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the liquid to betreated flows initially in a counter-direction to the travel of theproducts of combustion in the fire tubeand in a counterdirection throughthe flue tubes which occur in the space betweenthe horizontal bafileplates 4'! It will alsobe noted that the combustion cham- In addition tothis flow the fire tube her 30 is submerged completely within the liquidto be treated. When it is desired to clean the structure or to replacethe fire tube or the flue pipes the flue outlet structure is removedfrom the end of the shell ill by unfastening the bolts M. The tube sheet[2 will then be free so that the tube sheet, together with the fire tube28, the flue pipes 34, and the combustion chamber 30, may be bodilyWithdrawn as a unit while the skid 35 will slide along the inner lowerface of the shell Hi.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed is simple indesign and provides a heating unit which may be easily inserted into ashell or removed bodily therefrom, and which unit when in position willform passageways along which a liquid to be treated may pursue a sinuouspath of travel in heat exchange relationship with the various elementsof the heating unit.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention as now known tome, it will be understood that various changes may be made incombination, construction and arrangement of parts by those skilled inthe art, without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A liquid heater and separator of the character described, comprisingan outer tubular shell, means closing one end of said shell, a tubesheet for closing the opposite end of said shell, a heat exchange unitincluding said tube sheet and comprising a fire tube extending throughthe tube sheet and longitudinally of the shell, a combustion chamber atthe inner end of said fire tube and conforming to the contour of theinterior of the shell while being spaced from the walls thereof, aplurality of flue pipes extending longitudinally from the combustionchamber and through the tube sheet whereby products of combustiondelivered to the combustion chamber through the fire tube may escapethrough the flue pipes, horizontal baffle plates assembled with the heatexchange unit and spaced vertically from each other within the shell,and cooperating means carried on the inner wall of the shell to registerwith said bafile members to divide the shell into a plurality ofhorizontal passageways intermediately of said baflles whereby the heatexchange unit may be withdrawn bodily from the tube sheet end of theshell.

2. A fluid heating structure of the character described comprising anouter tubular shell horizontally disposed, a dome closing one endthereof, a combustion chamber mounted within the shell adjacent to theclosed end thereof, said combustion chamber having an outer wall spacedfrom the inner wall of the shell and its dome, means supporting thecombustion chamber in said spaced position, a fire tube of relativelylarge diameter communicating with said combustion chamber and extendinglongitudinally of the shell to its open end, a tube sheet through whichthe outer end of said fire tube extends, a fuel burner disposed adjacentto the open end of the tube sheet and projecting a flame of combustiblematerial into and longitudinally of the fire tube, a plurality of fluepipes communicating with the combustion chamber and leading through thetube sheet, said pipes being of smaller diameter than the fire tube andbeing arranged in a series of horizontal courses within the shell, apartition wall extending between the fire tube and a superimposed courseof flue pipes, said wall extending horizontally around the perimeter ofthe combustion chamber, cooperating means extending inwardly from thewall of the shell and being engaged by the partition wall to divide theshell into upper and lower longitudinally extending passageways, meansfor introducing a liquid to be treated into the lower of saidpassageways adjacent to the combustion chamber, a throat formed throughthe partition wall adjacent to the tube sheet for permitting the fluidto be treated to pass into the upper passageway of the shell, and anoutlet conduit for conducting the treated fluid from the shell.

3. A mixed liquid heater and separator comprising an outer cylindricalshell disposed horizontally, a closure for one end of said shell, a tubesheet detachably secured over the opposite end of the shell, 2. firetube extending through the tube sheet and extending longitudinallywithin the shell, a fuel burner disposed at the outer end of said firetube and designed to project a jet of combustible fluid into said firetube and longitudinally thereof, a combustion chamber with which theinner end of the fire tube communicates, said combustion chamberincluding a transverse wall through which the inner end of the fire tubepasses and a cylindrical shell closed at the opposite end from the walland being disposed in spaced relation to the inner wall of the outershell whereby a fiuid circulation space will occur around the combustionchamber, a plurality of flue tubes extending through the transverse wallof the combustion chamber and through the tube sheet, said flue tubesbeing arranged in a series of parallel horizontal rows across thesection of the outer shell, a horizontal partition extendinglongitudinally of the outer shell and between the fire tube and a row offlue tubes, portions of said partition extending horizontally around thecombustion chamber, means between the outer edges of the partition andits extensions for forming a fluid joint with relation to the wall ofthe outer shell, a second partition wall horizontally disposed betweenthe previously mentioned row of flue tubes and an upper row of fluetubes, said second partition extending from side to side of the outershell and along opposite sides of the combustion chamber whereby a fluidspace will occur between the two partition walls and a parallel fluidspace would occur between the upper partition wall and the top of theouter shell, a throat formed through the lower partition near the tubesheet, means introducing fluid into the outer shell in the space belowthe lower partition and means for withdrawing fluid from the shell anddirectly from within the upper fluid space, a flue outlet structuredetachably secured at the end of the tube sheet and in communicationwith the flue pipes, and a stack communicating with said outletconnection.

RAYMOND S. SULLIVAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,220,486 LKrotkov Nov. 5, 19402,354,932 Walker et a1 Aug. 1, 1944

